Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Out of the torrent of launch games that are also being released on original Xbox, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is a rare breed – it’s actually substantially, significantly prettier on 360. True, it’s otherwise exactly the same game as the Xbox version we reviewed last issue (score: 9.0), and true, the graphics are not so jaw-dropping that you’ll need fresh boxers. But if you haven’t bought the game yet, the extra $10 for the 360 version is money well spent.

Comparisons aside, Most Wanted is seriously impressive, especially because few would blink if the long-running NFS series had come down with a bad case of creative exhaustion. But mixing cop pursuits with street racing acts like a fresh spurt of nitrous, and Most Wanted takes full advantage with a deep career mode that’s richly layered with complexities. For instance, the more hell you raise in a particular ride, the more the cops crawl up your tailpipe, so changing its look with vinyls or new spoilers actually has a point. The cops aren’t chumps either, and battering past them and finally finding a hiding spot feels like an accomplishment every time, as does each victory in the “regular” modes. This is exciting, well-designed racing – exactly what earned NFS its name in the first place.
On Xbox 360
+ Cops put up a great fight.
+ Fun, creative, and deep variety of races.
- Hokey, wannabe “street†dialogue strains for cool and misses entirely.
? Why don’t all the Xbox “ports†offer an upgrade that’s this respectable?


9.0
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Kamikaze8
November 12, 2007 at 1:45pm
I got up to #2 when I had this, but it got really frustrating, annoying, and repetitive. But it is still one of my favorite Need For Speed games ever. I still have played Carbon or Prostreet, but this game was awesome.
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Dan OXM (not verified)
November 08, 2007 at 2:10pm
I still haven't finished this and I keep talking about doing it. I have like four more drivers on the list to take down, but the cop chases are starting to kill me. Since it was an EA launch game there are a lot of Achievement points wrapped up in those last few drivers and I really want to get 'em!














